Dusty's Castle- Prelude
#1 of Dusty's Castle
The Novelization of one of the more popular Legend of Krystal games; Dusty's Castle.
Trapped in a mysterious castle; a lone spectral being named Dusty must traverse the place's contents and whereabouts, while at the same time unknowingly play a key part in the final between good and evil for the fate of mankind.
Eons ago, in a land far from ours, the demons waged war with heaven. They were jealous of angels; intent on corrupting human souls and luring them to their side, only for the angels to constantly to constantly save them. This war was waged ever since man became sentient, but one battle was all the more violent.
Araphel, the powerful, mighty Angel of Virtue, was locked in mortal combat with Azeral, the ungodly, demented Demon of Sin. These two were powerful and mighty, yet remained natural, even enemies; clashing for eons, as their conflict, both deadly and destructive, never seemed to ever grow to a conclusion. Equally matched, neither gave ground to the other, neither gained nor lost the advantage, and neither could ever seem to win.
Knowing as long as they fought, Araphel knew that the Azeral was not free to corrupt man as he saw fit; to bend them to his whim. So his time spent fighting the demon meant less people would fall to his wicked wiles and turn their soul over to him for pleasure and other fruitless virtues. Clever Azeral needed a means out, and he soon had an idea.
"Brother Araphel," He addressed the angel, their combat halting for a brief moment. "Do you intend for this fight to last until the last song is sung?"
"Yes." The angel had replied, his stoic gaze speaking it all. He'd be damned if he let his treasonous brother go free; who knew how many would fall to his side if given the chance? "Surely you see how destructive we are!" The devil taunted, with a wave of his hand gesturing to the demolished landscape: trees split apart, the ground cracked into smoldering bits, and the sky itself in a torrential downpour from the very force of their powers colliding, alongside the dozens of corpses scattering the ground from those unlucky enough to be caught in the wake of the unexpected battle. "I'll happily fight you for all eternity, leaving all these dead innocents in our wake..." As much as he hated to accept it, the devil had a point. Their power was absolute; wherever they clashed, few survived. Stabbing his mace into the ground, the great angel crossed his arms, as stoic anger crossed his face.
"Your proposal?" He inquired.
"This is for all of mankind is it not; why not let them_decide?" Azeral spoke, as he looked around. "We shall set up a trial where they can choose; my sins or your virtues. Whichever they choose, and whichever they ultimately give into once and for all, the other must accept defeat, and then return to their respectable kingdom; never to interfere with the realm of man for eternity." The angel considered this for a while, as he weighed all the possible outcomes and ends. It was a gamble, but the dice rested in the favor of the hellspawn. More people seemed to prefer throwing their lives away for unlimited bliss...but he had...one hope. In the end, he surprisingly agreed. "Very well, but on the grounds that _I choose where the trial is held." Azeral joyfully agreed, unaware that the devil had been deceived; Araphel choosing a castle in the between-world; a place nothing living could pass through, thus sealing them both away for eternity; forever ending their conflict without a victor.
But fate, would it seem, did not approve of the angel's treachery; stooping to his brother's lower levels just to gain victory. After eons passed, one soul, lost and wandering, happened upon a castle between worlds; a place where none were supposed to pass, and yet she did.
And that lost wanderer would unknowingly be the final judge in a battle for the souls of all mankind, and determine who truly reigned; light, or darkness...
The doors to the massive castle slowly opened, a white gloved hand sliding in and pushing the door further open, allowing someone to apparently float inside.
"Hello?" She called out in a brittle yet concerned voice; looking around the place as she floated into the main room; her feet not touching the ground.
She was an odd being; being a phantom of sorts; her body a deep alabaster/gray hue, as her ash white hair cascaded down to her lower back. Her red eyes scanned the ruby red room, as she took into account the large staircase, as well as the elegance of this room. Her white gloved hands clenched a bit as she slowly lowered to the floor; her feet really being two strange circles. She really had no need to walk; but for now she was interested in seeing the two real things in the room that caught her attention.
One was a white statue, with a pair of angel wings and a halo. Engraved in it was the name Araphel, and her mind felt serene and calm whilst she stood next to it.
The other was a separate, dark statute, with a demonic tail and bat wings. Standing near it made her feel light headed, as her thoughts swam...like how that tail would feel. She shook her head, as she moved away and returned to the center of the room. An aura of foreboding energy was heavy, as she felt both relieved and sheltered from the outside...but at the same time frightened of what this castle offered; at what really dwelled within its depths. She opened her mouth, speaking only to herself, as she rubbed her forehead a bit.
"Dusty...what have you gotten yourself into...?"
To Be Continued...